The subject of the invention is a mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position that gives an impression of "smooth opening" of a car door as with a known spring mechanism and it allows retaining of a car door during opening or closing in a desired position between the fully closed and fully open door and also blocking thereof in such position.

A technical problem successfully solved by the present invention is a structural solution to the problem of "smooth opening" and retaining of a car door in any intermediate position between the closed and fully open car door.

Currently known structural variants of car doors allow retaining of a door while it is opening in only two or mostly three positions that are normally determined by grooves on guides of door hinges. A car door (especially a heavy car door) controllably stops somewhere halfway while opening and in the position of the entirely open door. Certain force is needed to move the door in these positions. A problem that arises when getting out of a car in a narrow space (e.g. garage, parking box) lies in that one has to hold the door while getting out of the car to prevent it from hitting the neighbouring car or a garage wall, since there is too little space for the door to stop halfway.

EP 0 911 471 document discloses the positioner which holds a door or window panel at a required angle, using an electromechanical device for continuous adjustment of the opening angle and a pair of mechanical brake pads, cooperating with a holding element for the door or window panel. The brake pads are operated by an electric motor controlled via an electronic evaluation device with an movement sensor.

DE 4207706 document discloses the door restraint which consist of one part, esp. a mounting element, on one part of the door system and a second part, esp. a braking and locking element, on the other. The inclination of the door hinge axis from its normal position is detected, Its signal is used by a braking or clamping device to compensate the resulting self-drive of the door. Another device can be used to ensure unhindered door closure motion.

Apart, described mechanisms for stopping a car door do not provide for a feeling that a driver has when opening a car door with a spring mechanism and other known mechanisms do not allow retaining of a car door in any position.

The present invention provides a mechanism for smooth opening and retaining a car door in a desired position, which additionally gives an impression of "smooth opening" of a car door as with known spring mechanism in any desired position. Moreover, the conventional door checks including spring mechanism do not allow retaining a door in any desired position, but only in a number of discrete positions which correspond to the fixed indentation of the connecting rod.

The invention solves the set technical problem by means of the features of claim 1 or 2. According to a first embodiment of the invention, a braking mechanism fixes a car door in a desired position by means of a brake disk driven by an electric motor and thus fixes a connecting rod - sliding within a housing - fastened between a door and the bodywork of a car. Sliding of the rod depends on the mode of a micro switch controlled by a roller located within the housing under the influence of a spring. The roller is guided in an indentation in the housing, which is rigidly fastened to the bodywork by means of a guide.

The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of two embodiments and drawings representing in:

Figure 1

schematic view of arrangement of a mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the first embodiment;

Figure 2

physical basics of operation of a roller in an indentation in the mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention;

Figure 3

mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the first embodiment in the situation of a door in motion;

Figure 4

mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the first embodiment in the situation of a retained door;

Figure 5

schematic view of arrangement of a mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the second embodiment;

Figure 6

mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the second embodiment in the situation of a door in motion;

Figure 7

mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the second embodiment in the situation of a retained door.

A mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the first embodiment is shown in the enclosed drawings 1, 3 and 4. It consists of a connecting rod 1 fastened at one end via hinge 2 to a car door, wherein said connecting rod 1 slides through a housing 3 of the braking section of the mechanism, said housing 3 being fastened to the bodywork via guide 4 by way of a shaft 5,5'. The area of the housing 3 with the arranged guide 4 is provided with a semicircular indentation 9, into which a roller 6 arranged under a spring 7 and within said guide 4 fits and controls a micro switch 8 on said guide 4.

On said housing 3 there is also arranged an electric motor 10 with a shaft provided with a brake disk 11 and a sensor 12 of movement of said connecting rod 1.

The functioning of the mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position will be explained by way of enclosed drawings, of which Figure 3 shows a mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention in the situation of a door in motion, and Figure 4 illustrates a mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the first embodiment in the situation of a retained door.

As a car door is moved with a sufficient force, the distance L changes, since teeth of said brake disk 11 are in engagement with the teeth of said connecting rod 1 and in this way said housing 3 moves together with said connecting rod 1. In this moment, said roller 6 - despite the pressure of said spring 7 - displaces from said indentation 9 to a position at the edge of said indentation 9 (marking x in Figure 1), when a disk fastened on said spring 7 actuates said micro switch 8 (Figure 3). Said micro switch 8 actuates said electric motor 10 via a microprocessor (not shown in the figure), which lifts said brake disk 11 from the engagement with said connecting rod 1. Due to a reduced component of FI force forcing said roller 6, the pressure between the teeth of said brake disk 11 and said connecting rod 1 is reduced in a way that only small force is needed for disengagement and the teeth of both parts are not loaded. Said housing 3 re-assumes its original position due to the pressure of said spring 7. Said connecting rod 1 is now free and can freely move and the distance L can change. As a movement sensor 12 detects a movement of said connecting rod 1, said brake disk 11 is separated from said connecting rod 1. Immediately as the door stops, said movement sensor 12 actuates said electric motor 10, which lowers said brake disk 11 to said connecting rod 1 and the movement of said connecting rod 1 is blocked. Said connecting rod 1 can be moved only when the force on the door is such to overcome the pressure of said spring 7 exerted on said roller 6, which is then displaced from said indentation 9 and again actuates said micro switch 8 at the edge of said indentation by means of said disk.

The mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the second embodiment is shown in the enclosed drawings 5, 6 and 7. It consists of a connecting rod 13 fastened in this embodiment at one end to a car door, wherein said connecting rod 13 is linked via gear teeth 14 to a toothed pair of disks 14', 15 rotating within a housing 23 of the mechanism embedded on the bodywork of a car via shafts 18, 18'. The housing 23 is provided at one portion with a semicircular indentation 24, into which a roller 19 arranged in a guide 21 with a spring 20 fits and controls a micro switch 25.

In said housing 23 there is also arranged an electric motor 17 with a shaft provided with a toothed disk 15 and which lies in possible engagement with a toothed disk 14', and a sensor 16 of movement of said connecting rod 13.

The functioning of the mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position will be explained by way of enclosed drawings, of which Figure 6 shows a mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the second embodiment in the situation of a door in motion, and Figure 7 illustrates a mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position of the invention and the second embodiment in the situation of a retained door.

As a car door is moved with a sufficient force, the toothed pairs of disks 14' and 15 engage and therefore by moving said connecting rod 13 said housing 23 rotates as well. In this moment, said roller 19 - despite the pressure of said spring 20 - displaces from said indentation 24 to a position at the edge of said indentation 24 (marking x in Figure 1), when a support 22 of said roller 19 actuates a micro switch 25 (Figure 6). Said micro switch 25 actuates said electric motor 17 via a microprocessor (not shown in the figure), which lifts said toothed disk 15 from the engagement with said toothed disk 14', connected with said toothed disk 14 of said connecting rod 13. Due to a reduced component of FI force forcing said roller 19, the pressure between the teeth of said toothed disk 14 and said connecting rod 13 is reduced in a way that only small force is needed for disengagement and the teeth of both parts are not loaded. Said support 22 with said roller 19 re-assumes its original position due to the pressure of said spring 20. Said connecting rod 13 is now free and can freely move and the door may move. As a movement sensor 16 detects a movement of said connecting rod 13, said toothed disks 14' and 15 are no longer in engagement. Immediately as the door stops, said movement sensor 16 actuates said electric motor 17, which engages said toothed disks 14' and 15 and the movement of said connecting rod 13 is blocked. Said connecting rod 13 can be moved only when the force on the door is such to overcome the pressure of said spring 20 exerted on said roller 19, which is then displaced from said indentation 24 and again actuates said micro switch 25 at the edge of said indentation by means of said support 22.

In both embodiments, the arrangement of the connecting rod and the mechanism can also be reversed in a way that the mechanism is fastened to a car door and the connecting rod is fastened to the bodywork, without changing the essential elements of the structure and operation.

In this way said mechanism for smooth opening and retaining of a car door in a desired position according to the invention and the enclosed embodiments provides for opening of a car door with a certain initial force and its retention in each opened position.